50 Historians Protest ‘Intolerance’, Attack Govt for its Silence

The statement accused Modi govt of not trying to assuage fears across the country.

File photo of writers and cultural activists with black bands take out a solidarity march. (Photo: PTI)

After writers, artists, filmmakers and scientists, over 50 historians came out strongly against Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday. They accused him of not making any reassuring statement following concerns over “highly vitiated atmosphere” prevailing in the country.

A total of 53 historians including leading names like Romila Thapar, Irfan Habib, KN Pannikar and Mridula Mukherjee have in a joint statement released by Sahmat raised their serious concerns over recent developments.

<p>Differences of opinion are being sought to be settled by using physical violence. Arguments are met not with counter arguments but with bullets. When a poor man is suspected to have kept a food item that certain sections do not approve of, his fate is nothing short of death by lynching. </p>

<p><b>Statement by Historians</b></p>

The statement also said, “When writer after writer is returning their award of recognition in protest, no comment is made about the conditions that caused the protest; instead the ministers call it a paper revolution and advise the writers to stop writing. This is as good as saying that intellectuals will be silenced if they protest,”.

“This was particularly worrying for historians who have already experienced attempts to ban their books and expunge statements of history despite the fact that they were supported by sources and the interpretation is transparent,” they said.

<p>What the regime seems to want is a kind of legislated history, a manufactured image of the past, glorifying certain aspects of it and denigrating others, without any regard for chronology, sources or methods of enquiry that are the building blocks of the edifice of history.</p>

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Speaking of the Prime Minister’s silence the historians said, “And when it is hoped that the Head of Government will make a statement about improving the prevailing conditions, he chooses to speak only about general poverty; and it takes the Head of the State to make the required reassuring statement, not once but twice.”

The statement urged the state to ensure an atmosphere that is “conducive to free and fearless expression, security for all sections of society and the safeguarding of the values and traditions of plurality that India had always cherished in the past.”

At least 36 writers including leading names like Nayantara Sahgal, Ashok Vajpeyi, Uday Prakash and K Veerabhadrappa had returned their Sahitya Akademi awards so far.

The statement attacked the current Modi government saying.

It is easy to trample them down, but it is important to remember that it will take too long and will be beyond the capacity of those who are currently at the helm of affairs, to rebuild it once it is destroyed.

Even writers came forward and stepped down from official positions of the literary body, protesting the “silence” over “rising intolerance”.

The Akademi had yielded to the unrelenting protests by calling an emergency meet and issued a strong condemnation of the killing of Kannada writer MM Kalburgi. It also urged the others to take back awards.

Scientists including three Padma Bhushan recipients Ashoke Sen, PM Bhargava and P Balram announced their decision to return their awards. This move comes after two sets of scientists over the past two days petitioned the President urging him to initiate “suitable actions”.